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Richfield Reunion Association 



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Vialu's Hotel, 



Way 24, 189? 



Akron, Ohio. 

C APRON v CURTXCB, PROMPT PRINTER fl 



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IN EXCHANGE 

JAN 5 - 1915 



The Richfield Reunion Association. 



Early in the spring of L880 Mr. Borace Green- 
wood, then residing at Elyria, Ohio, suggested to 
several residents of Richfield the propriety of 
holding a reunion of pasl and then present resi- 
dents of that town. The suggestion was received 
with so much favor that the necessary steps were 
soon under way to carry it to a successful termin- 
ation, and on a beautiful August day. in that year, 
" the old town on the hill '* was the scene of a re- 
markable and most enjoyable gathering of old-time 
friends and acquaintances, and one which will 
never be forgotten by those present. The frater- 
nal fires which were rekindled on that day have 
never gone out. and although it lias since been the 
earnest wish of many thai an annual, or at least 
bienniel, reunion be held, it failed of realization for 
the lack of a permanenl organization to manage 
the details of such an occasion, To accomplish 
the desired purpose Mr. Greenwood's energy and 
perseverance was again railed into requisition a 
few month.- ago, which resulted in another yather- 



"O v ' " ' ' '" «""""-■' .-' 



ing of past and present residents on the afternoon 
and evening of May 24th, 1893, at Viall's Hotel, in 
West Richfield, for the purpose of perfecting 
a permanent organization. Numerous invitations 
to the meeting were sent out, and about one hund- 
red and and eighty responded in person, while 
many others did so by letter. About 6:30 o'clock 
p. m. the visitors assembled in the hall of the hotel 
and were warmly welcomed by Mr. R C. Ellsworth, 
temporary chairman. 

It being the unanimous sense of the assemblage 
that a permanent organization be formed, to be 
known as The Richfield Reunion Association, the 
same was accomplished by the election of the fol 
lowing officers : 

President— R. C. Ellsworth, West Richfield. 

Vice Presidents— H. C. Searles, Akron, O. ; 
J. F. Eckert, Berea, 0.; E. W. Poole, Cleveland, 
O. ; Clarence Oviatt, Medina, O. 

Secretary — H. Greenwood, 151 Upson street, 
Akron, O. 

Corresponding Secretary— F. M. Chand- 
ler, 712 Logan avenue, Cleveland, O. 

Treasurer — Emmon S. Oviatt, Akron, O. 

Executive Committee— Mrs. E. S. Oviatt, 
chairman, Akron, O. ; Mrs.Wm. E. Shepard, Akron, 
O.; Mrs. W. C. Garthwait, Cleveland, O. ; Mrs. 
Eber Hawkins, West Richfield, O. ; Mrs. Samuel 

— 4 — 



Fauble, West Richfield, O. ; Miss Mina Culver, 
West Richfield, O. ; the President, Secretary and 
Treasurer, members ex-ofticio. 

Historians— Dr. A. E. Ewing, Richfield, O. ; 
Mrs. Henry Kilhefer, West Richfield, O. ; Harvey 
Welton, Esq., West Richfield. O. 



By-Laws and Regulations. 



The Association shall be known as The Rich- 
field Reunion Association. 

The members of said Association shall consist 
of all past and present residents of the Township 
of Richfield, Summit County, Ohio, and their 
descendants. 

For the purpose of providing for the payment 
of the expenses of the Association, each male 
member thereof shall contribute annually the sum 
of fifty cents. 

The officers shall serve for one year, or until 
their successors are elected. 

Twenty- five members shall constitute a 
quorum for th»> transaction of business. 

Members are expected to attend all meetings 
of the Association and on the day of the annual 

— 5 — 



reunion to lay aside their business cares and join 
in fraternal and social greetings and visitations. 

The proceedings of the Association shall be 
published annually for distribution among the 
members. 

Business meetings of the Association will be 
held promptly at 10 o'clock a. m. on the day of the 
annual reunion, in order that the social features of 
the occasion may not be interfered with. 

All members are expected and urgently re- 
quested to lend every effort to promote the welfare 
and success of the Association, to pay their dues 
promptly, to furnish the Secretary a list of their 
names and postoffice addresses, and to notify him 
of any change of address. To furnish the Corres- 
ponding Secretary, for the use of the Historians, 
such items of interest concerning themselves or 
their families, and in every way co-operate with 
the officers and members generally to the end that 
interest in the Association will increase from year 
to year, and be an incentive to our successors to 
continue its existence for generations to come. 

It is the desire of the Association to purchase 
and own all chairs, tables, cooking utensils, etc., 
as are necessary for use at its annual reunions. 

PRESIDENT. 

The president shall preside at all meetings of 
the Association, sign all orders on the Treasurer 

— 6 — 



and perform such other duties usually devolving 

on his office 

VICE PRESIDENT. 

In the absence of the presidenl the vice-presi- 
dents shall select one of their number to perform 
the duties imposed upon him, and. in conjunction 
with tln i oilier officers of the Association, shall 
consl itute an advisory board. 

SECRETARY. 

The Secretary shall keep a record of the pro 
ceedings of meetings, issue ail orderson tin.- Treas- 
urer, and keep a record of all receipts and dis- 
bursements*, and reporl the same annually to the 
Association. He shall carefully preserve and 
care for the records and property of the Associa- 
tion, receive all moneys and pay the same immedi- 
ately to the Treasurer, taking his receipl therefor. 
He shall render such assistance to the executive 
and other committees as they may require for the 
prompt discharge of their duties. 

CORR ESPONDING S E< IRETARY. 

The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to 
the correspondence of the Association, formulate 
the reports of Committees and render su m assist 
ance to the Historians and Secretary as they may 
from time to time require, and in the event of the 
absence or disability of the Secretary he shall per 
form the duties of the Secretary, pro tern 

-7- 



TREASURER. 

The Treasurer shall receive all moneys due the 
Association and disburse the same on orders 
signed by the President and countersigned by the 
Secretary and Chairman of the Executive Com- 
mittee and report annually to the Association. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

The Executive Committee with tbe President, 
Secretary and Treasurer, shall be the Trustees of 
the property of the Association, and shall consti- 
tute the General Committee of arrangements for all 
meetings and reunions, and when not otherwise 
determined by vote of the Association shall fix the 
time of holding all business, or social meetings or 
reunions, and arrange the details thereof, and 
when deemed advisable shall have power to ap- 
point such sub- committees as may be necessary, 
and assign them to such duties as are required. 

HISTORIANS. 

The Historians shall prepare for publication 
in the proceedings of the Association a brief and 
concise historical sketch of the township of Rich- 
field from its early settlement to the present time, 
and shall thereafter chronicle all interesting events 
occurring therein and report the same at the 
annual meetings of the Association. They shall 
also prepare an obituary record of members who 
have died during the year. Members will please 

— 8 — 



bear in mind that the labors of the Historians will 
be necessarily arduous and that they can render 
invaluable assistance by sending them such items 
of interest as may be within their knowledge. 
Short sketches and reminiscences being specially 
desired. 

R. C. Ellsworth, President. 

P. M. Chandler. Sec'y pro tern. 



Appendix. 



{From Beacon Letter.) 

The reunion and banquet, so long anticipated, 
was held at the Viall Hotel, at West Richfield, May 
24. The weather could not have been more aus 
picious had it been made to order. It was one of 
the most successful social events of some years in 
old Richfield. The company, consisting largely of 
the boys and girls of thirty years ago, coming from 
Akron, Berea, Cleveland, Mtdina and represent a 
tives from Kansas and Michigan, also residents of 
Richfield. After hand shaking and hearty greet- 
ings, at about 6:30 o'clock, the company assembled 
in Mr. Viall's commodious hall. The visitors were 

— y — 



given a welcome in a few appropriate words by R. 
C. Ellsworth, and in giving the guests the freedom 
of the city, presented an imitation key made of 
wood and quite large dimensions, which purported 
to be the key to their museum, library, city build- 
ings and park. Emmon S. Oviatt was selected as 
custodian. He accepted this great responsibility 
with a few appropriate words. Remarks were 
made by M. B. Stofer, of Cleveland; P. L. Allen, 
Wm. Townsend, of Richfield, and others. It has 
long been the desire of all who have resided in 
Richfield at any period, and their descendants, to 
hold these social gatherings more frequently, and 
in furtherance of this desire the company, by vote, 
named the association, Richfield Reunion Associa- 
tion. The association at once proceeded to elect 
officers: R. C. Ellsworth was elected president: 
H. C. Searles, of Akron, J. F. Eckert, of Berea, 
Dr. E. W. Poole, of Cleveland , and Clarence Oviatt 
of Medina, were elected vice-presidents; E. S. 
Oviatt was elected treasurer, H. Greenwood was 
elected secretary, both are of Akron; F. M. Chand- 
ler, of Cleveland, was elected corresponding sec 
retary. An executive committee, consisting of 
ladies, was also elected, composed of Mrs. Emmon 
S. Oviatt, chairman, Mrs. Wm. Shepard, both of 
Akron; Mrs. Wm. Garthwait, of Cleveland; Mrs. 
Eber Hawkins, Mrs. Samuel Fauble, and Miss 

—10— 



Mina Culver, all of Richfield; Mrs. Henry Kilefer 
and Dr. A. E. Ewing. were chosen historians. Both 
are of Richfield. Letters of regret were read 
from Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Wood, of Medina; Mr. 
and Mrs. B. H. Bouse, Mr. and Mrs. Herman 
Oviatt, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Barris, Mr. and Mrs. 
E.W. Poole, and Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Chandler, all 
of Cleveland. The company then assembled in the 
hotel dining room, where a most bounteous repast 
had been prepared by Mrs. Viall, assisted by a 
corps of Richfield's young men and young ladies, 
the young ladies being uniformly dressed in white. 
The menu was complete in every detail, and would 
put far in the background the efforts of any of the 
first hotels in Cleveland. It consisted of chicken 
pie, roast meats, cold meats, salads, all the delica- 
cies of the season, ices, ice cream and a variety of 
pastries. After the company had done ample jus- 
tice to the repast a variety of amusements were 
participated in, consisting of instrumental music, 
singing, checker playing, and tripping the light 
fantastic toe. Prof. D. E. Shepard's Orchestra, of 
Akron, furnished excellent music and many of the 
old boys and girls forgot for a time all rheumatics, 
aches and pain, and participated in the amuse 
ment to quite a Late hour. This occasion will long 
be remembered as a bright star in our busy lives. 
The Richfield Reunion Association adjourned until 
the second Wednesday of June. L894. 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




